MO2 Users Only, I used this mod (Not the patcher version) to work this idea. Do this at your own risk but the concept is obvious and simple once the penny drops. The basic idea is to use all the base game content as if it were a mod. Put it in folders and MO2 will treat it as a mod.
I made a copy of my last pre Bathesda's Upgrade SE profile, on MO2 and renamed the copy to AE. (Call it what you like)
Then I put all my new AE base game content into a new mod directory in MO2's mods folder. I named it 'AE' and included CC esm/esp's BSA's. Also Included Skyrim.esm, Update.esm, Dragonborn.esm, Dawnguard.esm, Hearthfire.esm and all their BSA's as well. IOW all the basegame plugins and BSA's.
You will need, either a back up of your SE version of the game or a set of reverse patched Plugins and BSA's if you forgot to make a backup, to do this next part. There is a reverse Patcher available here
I placed all my SE original game files (Skyrim.esm, Update.esm, Dragonborn.esm, Dawnguard.esm, Hearthfire.esm and all their BSA's don't miss all the skyrim BSA's) into another new Mod folder in MO2's Mod Directory and named it 'SE' amazingly, with out the amazingly lol.
I activated the new 'SE' mod (directory) in my original SE Profile and then, after switching to the new 'AE' profile, I similarly activated the 'AE' Mod (directory) in the new AE profile. Note here, I deactivated all the other mods that showed up in the new profile because it had been a duplicate of the original SE one. iow, I only had trhe new content activated in this profile. You could add your prefered mods though. I just want the (no mods game) for now.
All I have to do now is switch the profile to the version I want, 'SE' or 'AE' and use the relevant Launcher from this excellent mod. So far it's worked like a charm.
Don't cry to me if you try this & screw it up. Make Backups, and make backups of backups. Mods and modding is all about backups. Sorry if it's confusing. I figure if your smart enough to use MO2 you can handle this.
Finally, thanks to Doodlezoid for this clever idea. I'm very suprised it's not much more highly rated. Excellent Thank you.
I should have mentioned this in the above sticky I guess, sorry. You should also include the 'SKSE Scripts' folder for the relevant version, in your folder builds. IE Move the correct SKSE scripts folder along with the plugins and bsa's for each version.
NOTE - if you have an SKSE Folder containing any plugins from your previousSE set up. Move those to the new SE folder build as well.
Messed around with this quite a bit and can't get the legacy version to work if Skyrim is up to date (1.6.1130). Would recommend downgrading Skyrim back to 1.6.640, I was able to get my legacy launcher to work again.
Hey I just got this mod so I can switch fromm 1.6.353 to 1.5.97 to generate grass cache. I've followed the instructions on the mod page but I seem to keep getting this in my log. I don't have a pirated version of the game either? It doesn't allow me to run either versions of the game through their respective launchers.
Namespace(noskse=False) No valid pre-AE executable found Non pre-AE executable found. Could not find a valid patch file. Check nexus page for updates Valid directory SE Path is SkyrimSE.exe
Anniversary launcher is working fine but Legacy launcher keyboard does not working(console key and mouse is working but anything else is not working) Most of my mods are for se so i need Legacy launcher Can anyone help me?
I am having the exact same issue. Keyboard inputs work until first launching the game with the Legacy Launcher (clean game install, no mods, starting from Game directory). Replacing SkyrimSE.exe with the back-up file fixes the issue until I use Legacy Launcher again. Steam online or offline doesn't matter. I used the exact same Lite Loader download 6 months ago and had no such issues.
EDIT: Found the solution on the Downgrade patcher site. There seems to be an issue if you DON'T use a mod that alters startmenu.swf. Get one, and you are settled. A lightweight option for this is here: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/3223?tab=files
FYI to anyone trying to get this working with the lastest Steam version as of right now (1.6.640): SKSE no longer ships with skse64_steam_loader.dll (it doesn't need it anymore), and "Skyrim Anniversary Launcher.exe" will not work unless both skse64_steam_loader.dll and skse64_loader.exe are in the post-ae folder. As a workaround, simply use the version for 1.5.97 (copy it from the pre-ae to the post-ae folder). Once I did this I was able to launch both "Skyrim Legacy Launcher.exe" and "Skyrim Anniversary Launcher.exe" with no further issues.
Give Feedback
236 comments
I made a copy of my last pre Bathesda's Upgrade SE profile, on MO2 and renamed the copy to AE. (Call it what you like)
Then I put all my new AE base game content into a new mod directory in MO2's mods folder. I named it 'AE' and included CC esm/esp's BSA's. Also Included Skyrim.esm, Update.esm, Dragonborn.esm, Dawnguard.esm, Hearthfire.esm and all their BSA's as well. IOW all the basegame plugins and BSA's.
You will need, either a back up of your SE version of the game or a set of reverse patched Plugins and BSA's if you forgot to make a backup, to do this next part. There is a reverse Patcher available here
I placed all my SE original game files (Skyrim.esm, Update.esm, Dragonborn.esm, Dawnguard.esm, Hearthfire.esm and all their BSA's don't miss all the skyrim BSA's) into another new Mod folder in MO2's Mod Directory and named it 'SE' amazingly, with out the amazingly lol.
I activated the new 'SE' mod (directory) in my original SE Profile and then, after switching to the new 'AE' profile, I similarly activated the 'AE' Mod (directory) in the new AE profile. Note here, I deactivated all the other mods that showed up in the new profile because it had been a duplicate of the original SE one. iow, I only had trhe new content activated in this profile. You could add your prefered mods though. I just want the (no mods game) for now.
All I have to do now is switch the profile to the version I want, 'SE' or 'AE' and use the relevant Launcher from this excellent mod. So far it's worked like a charm.
Don't cry to me if you try this & screw it up. Make Backups, and make backups of backups. Mods and modding is all about backups. Sorry if it's confusing. I figure if your smart enough to use MO2 you can handle this.
Finally, thanks to Doodlezoid for this clever idea. I'm very suprised it's not much more highly rated. Excellent Thank you.
NOTE - if you have an SKSE Folder containing any plugins from your previous SE set up. Move those to the new SE folder build as well.
Backported Extended ESL Support
Namespace(noskse=False)
No valid pre-AE executable found
Non pre-AE executable found.
Could not find a valid patch file. Check nexus page for updates
Valid directory
SE Path is SkyrimSE.exe
Downloading an older version from SteamConsole solved the problem.
12GB total
From here
download_depot 489830 489831 3660787314279169352
download_depot 489830 489832 2756691988703496654
download_depot 489830 489833 5291801952219815735
Up to here
After downloading, please put them in one folder.
Overwrite the contents of the resulting folder with the Skyrim game folder
skse64_1_5_97.dll
skse64_loader.exe
skse64_steam_loader.dll
files in the SLL folder.
Registered and started in MO2.
Then I got this.
Could not find a valid patch file. Check nexus page for update
I understand.
Due to 1.6.1130.0.
but Legacy launcher keyboard does not working(console key and mouse is working but anything else is not working)
Most of my mods are for se so i need Legacy launcher
Can anyone help me?
I used the exact same Lite Loader download 6 months ago and had no such issues.
EDIT: Found the solution on the Downgrade patcher site. There seems to be an issue if you DON'T use a mod that alters startmenu.swf. Get
one, and you are settled. A lightweight option for this is here:
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/3223?tab=files